Game apparatus



May 11 1926. 1,584,547

R. E. JONES GAME APPARATUS Filed N v- 14, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Raga/Z151 Jones,

. ATTORNEY..

May 11 ,1926.

R. E. JONE$ GAME APPARATUS Filed Nov- 14, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 POINTS GAMES I INVENTOR. Ralph/4E. Jail q ATTORNEY.

May 11 1926. 1,584,547

R. E, JONES GAME APPARATUS Fil 14. 1925 S Sheets-Sheet 15 G I INVENTOR.

\ .Ralp/z filfoims; BY

WM ATTORNEY- Patented May 'ii, 192%.

GAME AEFAE'LATUS.

Application filed November This invention relates to a game apparatus, and has for its object to provide in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an ineX pensive and durable apparatus of such class for use in connection with the playing of a new, harmless, beneficial, interesting, athletic, amusing and dexterous gains terined farny.

With the foregoing and other objects in view. the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter more specifically described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, w ierein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be res rted to which come within the scope of t 1e claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference charactes denote corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure 1 is a top plan view illustrating the arrangement ofcertain of theelenients of ti e apparatus upon a court.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the score board and the ififlii'QlS used in connection t erewith.

Figure 3is an elevation and Figure 4 a sectional view of the playing period controller or timer.

Figure 5 is an elevation of an arrester.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of one of the receivers.

Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the projectile D 00 CO zroller ortiiner, a back stop, and a scoreooard and which arev arranged in a manner as hereinafter referred to upon a court.

apparatus further includes a plurality dobular.-projectiles for use by the oftens air'esters for the defense.

' e game is 'rla-yed by two 0" four playwhat may be termed rarny court uiring' a minimum space of about 30 by feet, and the court is indicated at 1. At the rear end of the court 1 a back stop 2 s21 bre construction and any suit- -s employed. The div ders,11n- 5 and 6, are pOSF'fOiieCl 14. 1-925. Serial No. 69,051.

The dividers 3, 5 and 6 extend transversely and are arranged in spaced relation. The divider t extends longitudinally of the court and connects thedivider-s 3,5 centrally thereof, The dividers preferably are constructed of strips of any suitable material detachably secured in position at the ends thereof. The dividers provide divisional lines upon the court, and in lieu of formsuch lines from strips of fabric'heavy twine or tape can be employed. The lines may also be formed from stripes of liine.

The divider 3, in connection with the entrance cnd of the court, forms a playing space 7 for the players acting from an offensive or serving standpoint.

That part of the court between the receivers, each of which is generally indicated by the reference character 8, and the divider 5, provides a playing space 9 for a single defending player, and that ,part of the court between the dividers 5 and 6 provides a playing space for two defending player's.

Preferably the distance between the divider 3 and the entrance end of the court is eight feet; between the dividers 3 and 5, six feet; between the dividers 5 and 6,

six feet; between dividers 6 and receivers.

S, seven-feet, and between the forward end of the receivers and the back stop, live feet.

The playing period controller or timer, referred to generally by the reference character 11, is positioned in advance of the divider 3 and at the longitudinal center of the court. The distance is" such as not to interfere with an offensive or serving player. The score board, which is indicated general- 1y by the reference character 12, is arranged a substantial distance in advance of the me i Each of the receivers 8, which may be erined a basket, consists of a circular hoop .3 supported by two posts 14 and 15 and 0 which is attached a conical shaped body ioi-t on It, the vertex of the body portion i (I l or itexihly and somewhat loosely secured EU; a suitable height, as at 17 to the backstop 2. The body portion is preferably flexihis, and is preferably of canvas or not constructio The hoop is preferably of two parts, an upper half and a lower half. In he preferred CO11S'ti c tion each half hoop has: two openings near each end, with longitudinal spacing of several inches. The open end of the canvas is hemmed as at 18, with two liberal openings 19 to the hem, one opposite the other. The half hoops are thus run through the hem and then secured to the posts by means of bolts 20, two bolts at each post, each bolt passing through each of two half hoops. Each hoop is mounted between and in line with its two corresponding posts. The axes of the two hoops are about three feet above the ground, approximately fifteen feet apart, parallel, perpendicular to the line of the back stop, and horizontal or nearly so.

The projectiles are in the form of light, inflated balls and one of which is shown in Figure 7 and indicated at 22. The projectiles are approximately seven inches in diameter.

The arrestcr or net, which is employed by each defending player consists of a coneshaped body portion 23 of foraminous material and open at its forward end. The body portion is connected at its forward end to a hoop 24, which has extending therefrom a handle member The smaller end of the body portion 23 is detachably connected by a snap hook 26 to a wrist band 27, which is secured to the wrist of the defending player.

The playing period controller or timer 11 comprises a base 28 having secured to the top thereof a metallic cup 29, and fixedly secured to the base 28 and extending up through the cup 29, axially thereof, as well as projecting a substantial distance thereabove, is a standard 30 having a reduced upper terminal portion 81 about which is eccentrically mounted for revolution a counterbalanced timer tube 32.

The tube -32 is formed at one side of its vertical median with a pair of opposed opening slots 33. into each of which there is securely attached by riveting a bearing means in the form of an eyelet. The lower of these 35 is circular and tits loosely about the re duced terminal portion 31. The upper hearing surface or collar St is oblong in shape the longitudinal ar-tis being parallel to the axis of the tube. The longitudinal slot in this eyelet or 'beaing surface permits the tube to be rotated wi hin a limited degree in a manner such that an end of the tube may be moved up and down. The bearing member 35 rests and turns upon the shoulder 3h. The end of the tube 32 which is nearer the center of rotation is closed by a counter-weight plug 3?. Near the other end, which is of closed construction, there is in the top part of the tube an inlet opening 38 for a spherical member 39, the function of which is to drop through the outlet -10 and strike the cup shaped member 29. This outlet -t0 is in the lower part of the tube 32 and near the center of rotation. An

upstanding deflector ll within the tube and partly overhangs the outlet :tt). The reduced terminal portion Ell extends all the way through the tube and about threefourths of the way through the axial hole of a wooden cylindrical block which serves as a brake.

The relation of the bearing surfaces is such that either end of the tube may be higher than the other. The veightof the plug 33?, however, is such that that end is normally lower than the other.

The score board 12 comprises a vertically disposed rectangular body portion .3 formed with two length vise extending spaced rows; of sockets ll. 4-5. The sockets of each row are twenty in number. livery tit'th socket of a row is otiset, as indicated at el i. The sockets of each row are numbered consecutively one to twenty and indicia for such purpose indicated at it and which consists of numbers from one to twenty. ()ne row of numbers is provided and which is common to both rows of sockets. The sockcts are numbered consecutively starting with the bottom socket of each row. Arranged above the rows of sockets 44;. i5 is conventional means, as at 48, to designate the purpose of the rows of sockets and as shown such conventional means designates the sockets for the recording of the points. One row of sockets is used by a serving or of fensive player to mark the scores made. and the other row of sockets is employed for the same purpose by the defensive player. lilarkers in the form of headed pegs are employed for insertion into the sock the markers for one row being red and the markers for the other row being blue. The form of markers is indicated at 40. Sockets for the reception of t ie markers. when not used. are arranged at the. lower part; of he body portion. further The body portion t, is more provided with two rows of consecut vely designated sockets for indicatiiur tho number of innings played and with which associate markers. The rows of sockets are indicated at 51, 52. and every titth socket is ott'set, as at 3. I

The liiody portion l3 is tiuthermore prow d with two rows of consecutivel de igd rows of socket. 5- for scoring the her of games played. and every tit'th socket of each of said rows is oti'set. as at :39. The body portion l3 is also provided with means. as at (it). l'or indicating th number of balls played. As shown. the lower part of the body portion is. provided with means for storing three pairs of red markers and three pairs of blue markers. Associated with the means for indicating the number of balls played is a iarkcr (it which is white.

The divider 4 enables defensive players to know where they are its d n with ret Hit]

sunk.

cue-e to the askets 8 without turning the head toward -1e baskets. g

The playing period controller or-ti-mer 11 controls the period for serving by the otfense, and in this connection it will be stated the. the ball 89 is h pod in the tube 32 and the latter is spun by the play r, or ii desired by a timer ofi'icial by giving the tube whirl preferably from that end provided with'the opening 'lQhe-centritugal force produced by whirling the tube with the ball in the end balances the tube and when the tube stops spinning the weight 8? will shift the tube to the inclined position shown in Figure 4-, causing the short end 01" the tube to lower, thus. elevating, the long end and causing the bal '39 to roll in a direction towards the reduced poi elOll 31, and as the ball 39 moves in such direction, :it will enthe'deflector 41 and the latter will direct the ball through'the opening it) into the member 29, the co tactof the ball with said niember will produce a ringing sound or signal.

The lollowing tentative general description and rules will give an understanding as to how the game maybe played:

General description of the game and general rules.

" Purposes: The serving side-tries to throw balls into thebaskets. When the balls are thrown, the defending side tries to catch them in the'handnets. The timer measures the available time during which the servside may throw.

Sinking: A ball is sunk when it is thrown by a server and enters directly, or by bouncing, into the basket throughthe ring thereof. A ball which enters and rolls out counts as sunk. A ball which strikes the basket ring and bounces from the basket is not it makes no difference how many times, or from what, the ball bounces en neuteto the basket from the hand of the server.

' Netting: A ball, having been thrown or dropped by a serving player, is netted when it is securely caught in a not by a defendi115;- player. It cannot be netted'a'iter it has touched the body oi a defender, a basket, a part supporting a basket, or the backstop, or if haspassed the line of the baskets.

Period: A period beginswhen a serving player spins the timer. It. ends when the timing ball drops, or under other circumstances to be hereil after referred to. During a 7E1i0tl, in singles, not more than one ball is thrown; in doubles, not more than two.

- Half: A half is one half of an inning and consists oi 11043 111011, than four periods. Each half includes no more and no less usuall tourbal-ls thrown in a halt inninp'.

during which ach side serves a .Inni ng An inning consists 01 two halves l t he in. first ha lveso'l' innings are so vel by alternate sides during a match.

Game: Game consists in winning not less than three innings and not less than two innings more than the opposite side has won.

Match: A match con -sts number of games, dependentupon previous agreement. Vi hichever side first wins the specified num- Jer of games winsthe mat-ch.

Scoring and recording: The score within the inning is recorded on the scoreboard and announces just before the timer is spun at the beginning of each period. Scoring is done by serving player or by an oiiicial. hen an inning or a ame is won, it is recorded on the scoreboard. Except as otherwise provided, each ball sunk counts fivepoints for the serving side. Except otherwise provided, each ball netted counts two points for the defending side. Except otherwiseprovider each served ball, neither sunk nor netted, counts one point for the defending side. The score is cumulative during; each inning. The side making the highest number Oil points during an inning wins the inning.

Fouls: A time ioul is committed when a serving player throws a lall before the timer -ras been spun or after the timing ball has dropped. A line tool is committed when a player, during a period, touches the ground witn his net frame or body on the wrong side'of his limiting lines. A. player or o'liicial noticing a foul committed. by himself or another player will call foul. The play of that period will. cease immediately. llo score will be-counted for any points won in a fouled period. It only one side has to .led, the penalty will be credited to the score oi the opposing side place of one played ball. If both sides have fouled, no penalty will be counted, and the'period will be played over.

Penalties: The penalty for a. line foul is five points. The penalty for a time foul is two points. If two or more fouls are comlnitted by one side during one period, the foul committed first determines the amount of the penalty.

If, during a period, serving player inadvertently drops his ball and it FOllEJIPLlllClG the area oi the server, it counts as throw.

A defending player may net such a ball, even though it may have cone to rest, provided he does without fouling before th dropping of the timing ball.

side can win the inning by rolling the remaining balls barely across the divider or hne '3, the lnning is credited as 'havlng'been In singles, tender. lwo

net and one ha i.

The server must P LV behind divider or line The d l where between Civi c iets.

roper part o'l eady with net in hand, the server, with l hall in one hand, spins the timer with the other. He t ion endeavors to throw the ball into one of the l asltets before the timing ball (il'O Yl. A period terminates in singles, when too timingball drops, when a tool has been vhen a ball has been sunk or nette 1e defender the court and t has reached a point such that the detci der 0 when a thrown ball can have no further opportunity to ne Doubles.

In doubles there are two players of one side opposed by two players of the other side. 'iwo baske s, two nets and two balls are used.

The serving players must play behind divider or line 3 and the defending players must play in the area between diviners or lilies I) and 6.

The two serving players or the two defending players may mutually exchange places at any time that they please.

"When the timer is spun, each defending player should be in position with a net in hand and each serving player should have a ball in hand. Either serving player may spin the timer. l lit'ier may throw the ball, or both may throw. either simultaneously or succc sively at either basket. It desired,

a tier one ball has been played, the other ball may be passed to the play i' that threw the lirst and he may throw the second also.

llither one or two balls are thrown during a peri d. li ithin a per od. a serving player is not permitted to picl; up r ball already tirown or a third ball.

A de'l'ending player may remove a ball from his net as oon as he pleases a l'ter the ball l as ln'iourly been .-=ecurely netted. During a period, he may net a second ball with or without having removed the lirst.

A period terminates, in doubles, when the timing ball drops, when a foul has been committed, who: two bal s have been disposed of in play (that is to say, have been sunk, netted r have reached points such that the defenders can have no further oppor tunity to net them), or when, one ball having been disposed of, a serving plaver, waiving the privilege of his side to dispose of the second ball, announces tarny. If a ball is thrown utter the announcement of laruy, such ball shall count for nothing.

In doubles, a halt consists of either two, three of tour eriods, and there are thrown a total oi four or live balls. in each period it is the right of the servers to throw two balls it they so desire, even though there have already been thrown three halls in that hall, providing, of course, that the throwing is done within the limit established ly the timer.

One l all havine been ll11.'( ..'11, a defending player may by ing 1aru f with an inilection o st to the erving side that the privilege o delivering the second niil be waived. li llQtllQl sue sted by the defenders or not, a se -ving player may, un- (er such circiunstances, announce :taruy ant. thus end the periot, or the serving player may d cline to announce lax-1. and

in such case it the timing ball drops after one ball has been thrown, the result is the same as though the seuing side has announced larnyl l i hen two balls have been thrown in a period, and the total number of balls thrown in the half does not exceed tour, both balls count in the scoring. .l'hen, howeve", a perioo starts with three balls already having been thrown since the beginning of the hall, it two more bal s a e thrown, the more iavorable score for the servers is the one counted, excepting, oi course, in the event 0 1? a foul. it the termination of a period, it four balls have ben thrown, the hall. is ended.

li'hat I claim is:

A game apparatus comprising a plurality of dividers l'or dividing a playing field into and crmlrolling the playing s race for ol'ense and de'lei'ise, projectiles in the 'lOllll ol globular elements for the ollensc, spaced stationary receivers for the projectiles to complete the oll'ensive movement and arranged solely at the rear of the playing space for the detcnse. and portable arresters to interrupt the oliensive action and including flexible means to receive and hold the projectiles to prevent the e latter entering the receivers. I

Q. A. name apparatus roin n'ising a plurality oi divi ers l'or dividing a playing 1 d into and controlling the p aying spaces t oll'ense and dctcn c. a manually whirli aole playing period controlling mechanism for an ollensive action on the part of a player and including means to provide an audilne signal at the. expiration of such period, projectiles in t i in of globular lements .he oli'ense. d siationaiy rethe pro ectiliis mplete the Cir the rear space for the defense. us comprising a plu- :or dividing it enrolling the playing spaces playing period 7 offensive d including yin'g space arresters to nd hold the proer enterin the i ng the playing sJilC ise, mannally Whirlk, g period controlling m an'ohensive action on this part or at l ircluding means to provide an at the expiratioi of such tries in the lorm Oi globnral amaimed rearwardr-s to interthese latter entering th receivers, and score board roVided with means to 1 and status of the contest. iratus comprising a back paced projectile receivers "orn'ardly of and having their to said lacl: stop, said lien forwa c ends, means 1 lw liorward ends of said "for nriiritaining said ends open er "for snp" porting the receivers at es witl respect to the back stop,

a controlling the playing space v rs for the ()llGZlSQ and for the pi 1 players for the defense, globular tiles to the players of the ollense, a projectile arrester for each player of'the tens r connected to such player, and

cried controlling mechanism arie playing s1 ace for the offense. ap 13S comprising a back 'r of spaced projectile receivers tinged forwardl of and having their rear ends anchored to said back sto1, s; id receivers open their forward encs, means connected with the forward ends of said i for maintaining said ends open rtller for supporting the receivers at ngles Wit n respect to the heel: stop, s I01 controlling the playing space player or players for the ofiense and .(1 i tire and arranged solely at playing 0 and. including or the ellc rse, spaced stationary,

" to complete the i (lCLlOll including i' e andhold the pro ectiles to the player or players for the defense, projectiles the play rs of the projectile arresteri or each player of ense id eennecteuto such playe a period controlling: mechanism .ri the playing space for the offense, re board for indicating points,

c projectiles th own; comprising pro ector receiving the ollensive t the oliensive the projecnovement, action and t the said receiving means, and a manually wlnrlable timing device to control the playing period of-a player for he oli ensc.

' 8. A game apparatus comprising means for controlling. the playing spaces for o'f tense an: defense, projectiles in the form. of mannall i thrown globular elements for i iralit' of stationary spaced pro tiles to complete 7 t arranged solely at the res-r of and above the playing space or .he defense, and a Y the oli'ensire action and having connecting it to the Wrist oi the defense and further inc-ludw a lr ndle to he orip ed by such player; its comprising means playing space for ollense 1 t irc ect-i cs-in theform of globeinent-s for t 'ie offense, means for reg the projectiles to complete the oi e movement and aranged solely at ster to interrupt the offensive action and rcluding means for flexibly connecting it the Wrist of player for the defense an d nrther ii eluding a handle to be gripped y said player.

10. A game apparatus con'iprising projece til-s in the Form of globular elements for L ll ie oilense, means for receiving the projectiles to complete the Ol'lGIlSlVO movement, an arr-ester to interrupt the OllQDSlVQ action and inchic ing means to receive and hold the movement, a band for connection to the wrist 01 de'fensive player, and an arrester for a defensive player including a handle carrying a projectile receivii net flexibly connected to said band.

12-. ii. game apparatus comprising projectiles in the form of globular elements for the offense, spaced stationary receivers for portable arrester' tour or the defense, and a portable arthe projectiles to complete the offensive movement, a band for connection to the Wrist 01 a defensive player, a projectile arrester for a defensive player including a handle carrying a projectile receiving means flexibly connected to said band, and a playing period cont-rolling mechanism for an oll'ense player.

13. A game apparatus comprising means for separating an offensive players playing space from a. defensive players playing space, manually thrown projectiles for the oil'ense, means suspended above the defensive players playing space at the rear thereof for receiving the manually thrown projectiles to complete the offensive movement, and means carried by and having means for connection to a defensive player for arresting, receiving and holding the thrown projectiles to prevent the same entering the said suspended receiving means.

14. A game apparatus comprising means for separating an oftensive players playing space from a defensive players playing space, manually thrown projectiles for the olfense, means suspended above the defensive players playing space at the rear there of for receiving the manually thrown projectiles to complete the offensive movement, means carried by and having means for connection to a defensive player for arresting, receiving and holding the thrown projectiles to prevent the same entering the said suspended receiving means, and a manually whirlable timing device for controlling the playing period for a player of the otl'ense.

15. A game apparatus comprising manually thrown projectiles tor the offense, suspended receiving means t'or said manually thrown projectiles to complete the oii'ensive movement, and a manually carried oll'ensive action arrester element for receiving and holding the manually thrown projectiles to prevent the same entering said suspended receiving means and including a flexibly connected projectile receiving receptacle.

16. A game apparatus comprising means for separating an oliensive players playing space from a defensive players playing space, manually thro vn projectiles tor the oli'ense, means suspended above the defensive players playing space at the rear thereor" for receiving the manually thrown pro jectiles to complete the offensive movement, means carried by and having means for connection to a defensive player for arresting, receiving and holding the thrown projectiles to prevent the same entering the said suspended receiving means, and an audible signal operating means arranged at the ofi'ensive playing space and operated by an otlensive player for limiting the playing period of such player from the time of operation of said means until the signal is sounded thereby.

In testimony whereof, I atlix my signature hereto.

ALPH E. JONES. 

